Not Much Buzz: Usyk vs Dubois

Usyk vs Dubois

Oleksandr Usyk versus Daniel Dubois August 26th in Poland.

No buzz for this one.

Big Fight Preview: Oleksandr Usyk Vs. Daniel Dubois

It’s the modern way, but heavyweight titleholder (one of em) Oleksandr “The Road Warrior” Usyk is a talented fighter.

Usyk has been throwing hands (and ducking them) since winning gold at the 2012 Olympic games.

He’s undefeated in 20 pro fights, with 13 knockouts.

In his 10th fight, he outpointed tough hometown hero Krzysztof Glowacki in Poland to capture the WBO cruiserweight title.

Usyk unified the cruiserweight division by edging Mairis Briedis in the semi-final of the World Boxing Super Series in 2018. He easily defeated hard-hitting Russian Murat Gassiev (in Moscow) to win the finals.

The traveling man next ventured to London, where he dispatched Tony Bellew in eight competitive rounds.

Usyk moved up to the heavyweight division. Though he defeated Derek Chisora in 2020, it wasn’t easy.

Many figured a bigger man could handle him.

Oleksandr Usyk vs Daniel Dubois Highlights & Knockouts

Enter defending heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.

Joshua was feeling good after putting his career back on track. His confidence was bubbling over (at least in public).

The oddsmakers installed him as a 3-1 favorite over Usyk.

It took Usyk less than five minutes to figure Joshua out. His 12-round victory was without question. The rematch was closer, but Usyk used guile and fast hands to edge Joshua.

Daniel Dubois rolled over his first 15 opponents until he faced Joy Joyce – losing by stoppage. Many called him a quitter. Dubois sustained fractures to his left eye, as well as retinal bleeding. Couldn’t see a thing. His heart was on the chopping block after the loss. Unfair really.

Since the Joyce fight, Dubois has won four bouts in a row. His last one caused many of his supporters to need a drink after. Dubois stopped virtually unknown South African Keven Lerena in three crazy rounds.

Dubois was down three times in the opening round, tearing his ACL in the process. He rallied to knock Lerena to the canvas twice in round three. Referee Howard Foster took the opportunity to stop the fight prematurely, angering many. He’s done that before – see Froch vs. Groves one.

Oleksandr Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois • FULL PRESS CONFERENCE | Frank Warren & TNT Boxing

Dubois is now fighting for the heavyweight championship in the world.

He has a pretty good idea of what he’s facing.

“I’ve got to go in there, and I’ve got to do a job on him,” said Dubois last week. “The bookies and all that, it is what it is. He’s the favorite. We all know that already, so there’s no pressure for me. I don’t listen to that anyway, so that wouldn’t make a difference, but it’s good to be the underdog. That’s what I like.

Dubois, the younger man by 11 years, has a plan.

“Usyk‘s got the footwork and all of that, so it’s no secret,” he said in an interview on secondsout.com. ” You go in there and make it a rough fight. You go in there and bully him. And that’s what I’m planning to do.”

A plan is good, but Usyk will have one as well. The thinking here is he’ll be too clever for Dubois. A late stoppage or decision seems likely.